Emma Raducanu started off her 2024 Eastbourne International campaign with an impressive win over WTA veteran Sloane Stephens in two sets.
Before the tournament, Raducanu admitted that she had rediscovered the fire she had in the past and was really confident in her tennis. Some of that was clear during her recent stay in Nottingham, where she played really solid tennis until running into compatriot Katie Boulter.
Her grass season continued in Eastbourne, and the opponent was a fellow US Open champion, Stephens. The American is a really solid player and can do some damage.
She did just that in this match, but not enough to trouble the home crowd favorite. Stephens’ opening set was solid, especially in the first half, as she held an early lead.
Raducanu broke back at 3-4 to make it 4-4, and that’s when the momentum shifted in her favor. She was able to finish the opening set, winning two more games to make it 6-4.
The Brit was on a 3-0 run to win the first set, and she was able to keep the momentum going into the second set. She opened with an early break and then added another one to make it 5-0 in almost no time.
Stephens struggled in the rallies, which is not unusual because Raducanu can hit the ball really well. Her US Open run showed that, as she was hitting winners against multiple opponents with barely any response coming her way
It was also similar in this match, as the Brit shined. She certainly backed up her words of being very confident in her tennis. She finished the match with a second-set bagel, which means that she finished the match on a nine-game run to win 6-4, 6-0, and book a second-round match against the second-seeded Jessica Pegula.
